3 Former Mississippi Police Officers Indicted for Murder, Manslaughter of Black Man

A grand jury has indicted three former Mississippi police officers for murder and manslaughter of a Black man. Reports say the man died soon after a confrontation with the officers on New Year’s Eve.

On New Year’s Eve, Mississippi police officers responded to a hotel after receiving a report from security. Reports say, a man was repeatedly asked to leave for allegedly harassing people in the parking lot. A police body camera footage revealed that during the confrontation with the man, the officers tased him several times as he screamed and writhed in pain.

An article in CNN states that the victim was eventually identified as Keith Murriel, 41. Murriel was reportedly transported to a hospital where he unfortunately died. According to the lawsuit, the victim’s cause of death was cardiac arrest. However, when the Hinds County Coroner was asked about the cause and manner of death, they did not immediately respond.

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Charges Faced by Mississippi Police Officers

According to Zaru, a grand jury indicted three former Mississippi police officers in connection with the death off Murriel. Two of them, Avery Willis and Kenya McCarty, faced charges of second-degree murder. The third, James Land, on the other hand, was charged with manslaughter.

On May 26, Willis reportedly turned himself in and is awaiting his arraignment. On the contrary, Land and McCarty have been released out of jail on a $75,000 and $150,000 bond, respectively. Furthermore, reports say, McCarty entered a not guilty plea.

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